I have a cycled 45 Gallon tank with 8 tigers and 6 danios. I like the looks of the Opaline Gourami. I would like to get two. I talked to the fish store and they can not help me on making sure I get a male and a female. How do I tell the differance? What are Opaline Gourami like? I also like Yo YO loaches, How many do I need ?
What Gourami would work in my 45 Gallon tank with 8 Tigers?
- Thread starter Carmen H
- Start date
The best way to differentiate between the male and female Opaline Gourami is by the dorsal fin. In the male, the dorsal fin is long and pointed, while the female's is shorter and rounded.
The Opaline Gourami is compatible with a variety of tank mates that are of similar size and temperament. While males can be territorial with each other, they become timid around other, more aggressive fish. The ideal tank set-up would be a minimum of 20 gallons and have plenty of live plants as well as rocks and driftwood for use as hiding places.
The Lohachata Botia Loach (Yo-Yo) is an active scavenger that is a semi-aggressive fish that enjoys the company of its own species, or other semi-aggressive fish. It will school with others of the same age and size. The Lohachata Botia Loach appreciates caves, holes, and other places to hide, especially when it sleeps. Because it originates from streams, it requires water currents in the aquarium.
*Info from Live Aquaria .com
The Opaline Gourami is compatible with a variety of tank mates that are of similar size and temperament. While males can be territorial with each other, they become timid around other, more aggressive fish. The ideal tank set-up would be a minimum of 20 gallons and have plenty of live plants as well as rocks and driftwood for use as hiding places.
The Lohachata Botia Loach (Yo-Yo) is an active scavenger that is a semi-aggressive fish that enjoys the company of its own species, or other semi-aggressive fish. It will school with others of the same age and size. The Lohachata Botia Loach appreciates caves, holes, and other places to hide, especially when it sleeps. Because it originates from streams, it requires water currents in the aquarium.
*Info from Live Aquaria .com
as yashinfan wrote, the key to sexing many types of gourami is the dorsal fan. i cannot state this emphatically enough: in mature fish, the difference is OBVIOUS. the female's is very rounded, almost circular, while a mature male will have a sharply pointed fin...more like a long triangle. unless your LFS only has babies, they're pretty incompetent if they can't tell...in my opinion, they're one of the easiest specimens to sex.
as far as yoyos...you could easily have 3-5 in a 45g tank. i wouldn't get less than 3, because they tend to be antisocial and nippy if you only have 1 or 2. i currently have 4, and they're quite a bunch. highly recommended fish.
as far as yoyos...you could easily have 3-5 in a 45g tank. i wouldn't get less than 3, because they tend to be antisocial and nippy if you only have 1 or 2. i currently have 4, and they're quite a bunch. highly recommended fish.
an addition: opaline gouramis are some of the more aggressive gouramis, and for that, i think they're a decent choice to go with your current fish. the males, especially, are somewhat notorious for being pugnacious. i would recommend getting two females, but if you must get a male, you probably want to get just the male alone, or one male and two females. that should just about fill your tank up, i'd imagine...3 gouramis, 3 yoyos, 8 tiger barbs, 6 danios...depending on your maintenance and filtration, of course.
I have 330 pengium biowheel . Could someone give me a site so I can see the differance in male and female. My fish store doesn't know and they won't stay because their supplier could tell them anything if it was males or females. I know its the shape of dorsal fin,but I need a picture in my mind!!!! Thanks
this is almost certainly a female, though it is possible that it could be an immature male. as i stated above, in mature specimens (+2"), it is incredibly obvious. i found it a bit harder to find a good example of a female via my brief search of the internet, but i think this one shows the round dorsal fin adequately for your purposes.
T
Thanks for the pictures. The only way I know how to get a male and female is to order online. I can now try to look at fish stores in our area. I have to travel 85 miles to a large city or 30 miles around the area to find fish. Stores won't promise me a male or female gourami. Good thing we have these fish sites. Thanks guys!!!!!
Thanks for the pictures. The only way I know how to get a male and female is to order online. I can now try to look at fish stores in our area. I have to travel 85 miles to a large city or 30 miles around the area to find fish. Stores won't promise me a male or female gourami. Good thing we have these fish sites. Thanks guys!!!!!
LMOUTHBASS
My hypocrisy goes only so far
by tigers do you mean tiger barbs? if so i woulnt get gouramis simply because the barbs will continually nip at the gouramis feeler fins - :shake:
I have 8 Tiger Barbs and 6 Danios. My barbs seem very busy with themselves and stay im the bottom more around all my rocks, plants and caves. I have a forest on the bottom of my tank. I put suction cups on long trailing plants that hang from the top of my tank. These filter light and my fish can swim or hide in them. I have a taller tank and I think the Gouramis will like these plants to hide in the top area. I have been told that you can put Tiger Barbs in with fish as long as you have a school. I have read of putting Tiger Barbs with Gouramis. I read of other community tanks with these fish. Sounds like I have to worry more about the Gouramis getting along then the Barbs hurting the Gouramis!!